San Antonio Fiesta week

Fiesta Week in San Antonio: A First-Timers Survival Guide

Every year in the spring, San Antonio hosts a massive, ten-day festival known as Fiesta Week. Are you considering attending this year?

If you’re interested in attending Fiesta Week, it’s important to start planning early.

There’s a lot that you can do during the celebration, and it’s easy
to feel overwhelmed if you arrive on the first day totally unprepared.

Not sure where to begin when it comes to preparing for Fiest Week?

Read on to learn everything you need to know to have a great time during Fiesta Week in San Antonio.

What is Fiesta Week?

Fiesta Medal Week

Fiesta Week, also known as Fiesta San Antonio and previously known as
Fiesta San Jacinto, is a 10-day festival that started in 1891.

It began as a flower parade dedicated to the heroes who participated and lost their lives in the battles of San Jacinto and the Alamo.

The celebration soon evolved in the massive event people know and love today.

Fiesta Week takes place throughout the city of San Antonio and
includes over 100 different events, including parades, art exhibits,
parties, and the delicious Tastes of Texas experience.

Get the Most Out of Fiesta Week in San Antonio

Fiesta Week sounds pretty incredible, right? In order to have the
best experience possible, though, you need to start planning your trip
now.

Here are some tips that will help you survive — and have the time of your life — during Fiesta Week.

Use Park & Ride

If you want to save money and avoid the headache of trying to find a
parking spot during the festival, you ought to use Park & Ride.

Basically, you’ll drive to a parking lot, park your car, then get on a bus and travel to your destination.

It’s highly affordable — $2.50 each way; $1.25 for kids and seniors.
It also saves you a lot of hassle and leaves you free to relax on your
way to and from the event.

Get Cash Beforehand

There will be ATMs spread out throughout the festival. But, those
ATMs will almost all slap an annoying surcharge on to any withdrawals
you attempt to make. Save yourself some money and take out cash before
you get to the event.

Keep Your ID on Hand

If you plan to enjoy any adult beverages while walking around Fiesta
Week, you better make sure you have your ID on hand at all times.

You will get carded, and it’s best to be prepared.

That way, you don’t have to waste time fumbling around in your
backpack trying to find your driver’s license every time you want
something refreshing to drink.

Charge Your Phone

Nobody likes having a dead phone with them when they’re at a big
event like this. This is especially true if you’re using the Fiesta Week
app to help you navigate the festivities.

Make sure your phone is fully charged before you leave for the
festival. Consider bringing a portable phone charger with you, too, just
to be safe.

Bring a Tote Bag for Souvenirs

If you plan on purchasing souvenirs for yourself or your kids while
you’re attending Fiesta Week, plan on bringing an empty (or nearly
empty) tote bag with you, too. That way, you won’t have to worry about
juggling all your belongings while you participate in different events.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

There’s no getting around it — you’re going to have to do a lot of
walking during Fiesta Week. This is not the right time to wear your
favorite high-heeled shoes. Save those for another night and put on a
comfortable pair of sneakers instead.

Like it or not, it sometimes rains during Fiesta Week. Check the
weather ahead of time to make sure you have the right clothes and gear
on hand.

Check the Weather

Even if the weather seems like it will be clear, you might want to
bring a small umbrella with you anyways. If nothing else, it will
provide you with some shade when the sun comes out.

Make a Sash for Your Kids’ Medals

Your kids are likely going to receive a lot of medals during Fiesta
Week, and they’re going to want to display them throughout the event.

Make a simple sash out of a wide piece of ribbon before you head to
the festival. Then, they can simply attach the medals to the ribbon and
wear them with pride.

Not sure what the big deal is with medals? Check out this article to learn more about Fiesta medal culture.

Put Together a Survival Kit

Be sure to bring a survival kit with you, too. What goes into a survival kit?

At the very least, you should be sure to include the following items:

Snacks

A package of wipes

Hand sanitizer

Tissues

A hat

Sunscreen

A water bottle (or two)

A disposable poncho or umbrella

You may also want to include a small flashlight if you plan on
attending a lot of nighttime events. Sure, you could use the flashlight
on your phone, but that’s also going to drain your battery life pretty
quickly.

Start Planning for Fiesta Week Now

It may seem like you have all the time in the world. Fiesta Week in San Antonio will be here before you know it, though.

Start planning your trip now so that you can cruise into town on the first day of Fiesta Week ready to have a great time.

Are you getting excited about the big event? Do you want to purchase a custom medal for the occasion?

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Frankies Friends

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Cheko

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Anthony’s Seafood Cafe

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If so, contact us at Fiesta Medal today to get a quote. Our medals are of the highest quality and are created just for you by our talented designers.

If you asked them to name famous events, most people would
name things like the Kentucky Derby. They probably wouldn’t mention
Fiesta San Antonio, although this celebration is over 125 years old.

You might be asking, “What is Fiesta?” It’s San Antonio’s oldest and
largest parade, started in 1891 by a group of local women. Since then,
the parade has expanded into a week-long carnival known as Fiesta.

This guide will introduce you to Fiesta week, its history, and how it impacts the city of San Antonio.

The Battle of Flowers

Fiesta San Antonio history starts with a one-day event in 1891. The inaugural parade
was held to honor the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto. Local women
decorated bicycles and baby buggies, then threw flowers at each other.

This is why it has the name “Battle of Flowers.” From the very start, women alone organized the parade. That’s still true today.

The festival expanded, adding more events held over the course of a
week. In 1895, the Battle of Flowers Parade Association began crowning a
carnival queen. In 1909, the Fiesta “royalty” expanded to include a
princess and 24 duchesses.

Fiesta Week Today

Fiesta is San Antonio’s largest and oldest celebration. It celebrated
its 125th anniversary in 2016. It’s still going strong, attracting
millions of visitors annually.

Fiesta San Antonio events are held in San Antonio and neighboring
areas. Participating cities include Alamo Heights, Balcones Heights,
Windcrest, and Boerne.

A block party takes place over four evenings. There’s also a Charreria event, which showcases equestrian talent.

Fiesta week San Antonio occurs during the last two weeks of April every year.

Impacts on the City

San Antonio Fiesta week is the city’s largest festival, so it’s easy to see why people make a big deal about it.

UTSA’s Center for Community and Business Research reports Fiesta makes more than $340 million. The local government collects over $3 million in sales tax during the festival alone.

There are approximately 100 member organizations that take part in
the festival. Volunteers are integral to the festival, but Fiesta has
also created almost 3,500 jobs.

Fiesta week has a significant tourist impact. It brings around 3
million people out to celebrate in the streets of San Antonio each year.

Plan Your Fiesta Trip

If you’ve ever been in San Antonio during Fiesta week, you know all about the magic of this amazing celebration.

If you haven’t gone yet, there’s no better time to start planning a
trip. Visit during the last two weeks of April, and you can take part in
balls, parades, and so much more. You may even have the chance to get a
Fiesta medal from the local festival royalty.

What are you waiting for? Start planning your Fiesta trip by checking out our guides to events, food, and fun! And don’t forget to get your fiesta medals!